Core Insights - Southside Market & Barbeque is expanding its national e-commerce business by leveraging digital marketing strategies and partnerships to enhance brand awareness and reach customers beyond Texas [1][3] - The collaboration with Spectrum Reach focuses on utilizing Customer Data Match capabilities to effectively target existing and potential customers using their own customer data [2][4] Group 1: Company Strategy - Southside Market & Barbeque aims to grow its e-commerce presence by reaching a broader customer base through digital, social, and email marketing strategies [1][3] - The company has reported double-digit increases in key e-commerce metrics, including orders, returning customers, and sales revenue, as a result of using Spectrum Reach's Customer Data Match feature [3] Group 2: Spectrum Reach Capabilities - Spectrum Reach's Customer Data Match feature has successfully facilitated over 800 local campaigns, achieving a 90% match rate for home addresses, significantly higher than the industry benchmark of 50% to 70% [3][4] - Spectrum Reach provides advanced targeting capabilities and tools like the Audience Reach Optimizer (ARO) to help local businesses effectively engage with their target audiences across various platforms [4][6] Group 3: Industry Impact - The partnership between Southside and Spectrum Reach exemplifies how small and medium-sized businesses can utilize advanced advertising solutions to enhance their marketing efforts and drive traffic [4][6] - Spectrum Reach operates in 36 states and 91 markets, offering scalable advertising solutions supported by a U.S.-based workforce, which helps businesses reach customers across multiple screens [6]

Core Insights - AT&T and Charter Communications are significant players in the fiber broadband industry, with AT&T being a major wireless service provider and Charter being the second-largest cable operator in the U.S. [1][2] Group 1: AT&T Overview - AT&T is experiencing growing demand in its fiber network business, adding 261,000 fiber customers in Q1 2025 and reaching 30 million locations across the U.S. [4][10] - The company is acquiring Lumen's Mass Markets fiber Internet business for $5.75 billion, which will enhance its fiber expansion capabilities and customer base [5][6] - AT&T's postpaid wireless business is performing well, with 324,000 new postpaid phone additions and a churn rate of 0.83% in Q1 2025 [7] Group 2: Charter Overview - Charter serves approximately 30.1 million customers and is investing $7 billion to extend fiber to 1.7 million rural locations, aiming for multi-gig speeds [2][12] - The company added 514,000 mobile lines in Q1 2025, bringing its total to 10.4 million, and is enhancing its network to offer symmetrical and multi-gig speeds [13] - Charter's current ratio is 0.36, indicating potential liquidity challenges, while its debt-to-cap ratio stands at 82.2% [14] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Both companies face stiff competition in the fiber network market, particularly from Verizon and each other [8][14] - AT&T's wireline division is struggling with losses due to competition from VoIP providers and aggressive offerings from cable companies [8] - Charter's merger with Cox is expected to strengthen its competitive position in mobile and broadband communications [13] Group 4: Financial Performance and Estimates - Charter's EPS is forecasted to grow by 13.07%, while AT&T's EPS is expected to decline by 8.41% [10][15] - Over the past year, AT&T's stock has gained 54.6%, while Charter's has returned 36.1% [18] - Charter's shares trade at a lower price/earnings ratio of 8.97 compared to AT&T's 13.02, making it more attractive from a valuation standpoint [18] Group 5: Investment Outlook - Charter has shown steady revenue growth, while AT&T faces challenges with declining wireline customers and competition [22] - Charter's aggressive fiber expansion strategy and favorable valuation metrics position it as a potentially better investment option [22]

Core Insights - Spectrum has awarded $1.8 million in scholarships through the Spectrum Scholars program since its inception in 2020, supporting 90 students [1][8] - The fifth class of Spectrum Scholars consists of 15 college juniors, each receiving a $20,000 scholarship and participating in a two-year professional development program [1][8] Financial Support and Development - Spectrum Scholars combines financial assistance with mentorship from experienced professionals, networking events, leadership development, and a paid 10-week internship at various corporate offices [2][8] - The program aims to help students build skills, confidence, and connections necessary for launching meaningful careers, many of which are expected to be at Spectrum [3][5] Career Outcomes - A notable success story includes Paola "Lola" Beber Sanches, who transitioned from a Spectrum Scholar to a full-time Brand Marketing Specialist within three years of joining the program [4][5] - The program emphasizes real-world experience and mentorship, which significantly impacts students' career trajectories [5] Commitment to Employee Development - Spectrum offers competitive starting wages, educational benefits, comprehensive health coverage, a robust retirement plan, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, reflecting its commitment to developing talent [5][6] - The company maintains a 100% U.S.-based workforce, reinforcing its dedication to local talent development [6]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Cable Television industry is adapting to challenges from cord-cutting by focusing on bundled offerings and on-demand programming to remain relevant in the evolving media landscape [1] - Companies in this industry are leveraging their broadband infrastructure to meet changing consumer preferences while balancing traditional cable services with new streaming options [1][2] - The industry is capital-intensive and heavily regulated, requiring ongoing investment in technology and infrastructure to maintain competitiveness [2] Trends Impacting the Industry - The shift towards skinny bundles and original content is driving growth, as cable companies adapt their business models to meet consumer preferences for digital and subscription services [3] - High-speed internet demand is a key catalyst for growth, with increasing internet speeds fueling demand for high-quality video and binge viewing [4] - The traditional pay-TV industry is maturing, facing challenges from rising programming costs and competition from streaming services, which complicates customer retention for cable companies [5] Advertising and Market Performance - Softness in advertising demand due to inflation and higher interest rates is impacting business growth, as marketers shift focus to digital platforms for more measurable results [6] - The Zacks Cable Television industry has underperformed compared to the broader Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector and the S&P 500, with an 8.9% return over the past year versus 19.8% for the sector and 11.2% for the S&P 500 [11] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at an EV/EBITDA of 6.76X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 17.07X and the sector's 10.84X, indicating potential undervaluation [14] Company Highlights - **Comcast**: Demonstrates financial resilience with 2% EBITDA growth and $5.4 billion in free cash flow, but faces challenges with 199,000 customer losses in broadband [17][18] - **Charter Communications**: Following a $34.5 billion acquisition of Cox Communications, the company shows operational resilience with 4.8% adjusted EBITDA growth and $1.6 billion in free cash flow [21][22] - **Naspers**: Reports a 24% increase in ecommerce revenue to $3.3 billion and a fivefold increase in adjusted EBIT to $169 million, supported by a strong AI-first strategy [25][26]

Core Viewpoint - The Zacks Premium service provides tools and resources to help investors make informed decisions and improve their investment confidence through various rankings and scores [1][2]. Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, assisting investors in selecting stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [2][3]. - Stocks are rated from A to F, with A being the highest score indicating a better chance of outperforming [3]. Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow [3]. Growth Score - The Growth Score focuses on a company's financial strength and future outlook, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks with sustainable growth [4]. Momentum Score - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, using factors like one-week price change and monthly earnings estimate changes to identify optimal buying times [5]. VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing strategies [6]. Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that leverages earnings estimate revisions to assist investors in building successful portfolios [7]. - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have produced an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8]. Stock Selection Strategy - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [10]. - Stocks with a 3 (Hold) rank should also have Style Scores of A or B to ensure potential upside [10]. Company Spotlight: Charter Communications - Charter Communications is the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., serving approximately 30.1 million customers through its Spectrum brand as of December 31, 2024 [12]. - The company holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) and a VGM Score of A, making it a strong candidate for growth investors [12][13]. - Charter is forecasted to achieve year-over-year earnings growth of 13.1% for the current fiscal year, with upward revisions in earnings estimates from analysts [13].

Company Performance - Charter Communications (CHTR) has returned 14% year-to-date, outperforming the average gain of 5.2% in the Consumer Discretionary sector [4] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CHTR's full-year earnings has increased by 4.3% over the past three months, indicating improved analyst sentiment and a stronger earnings outlook [3] Industry Comparison - Charter Communications belongs to the Cable Television industry, which currently ranks 163 in the Zacks Industry Rank, and this group has seen an average loss of 0.6% year-to-date, highlighting CHTR's superior performance [5] - In contrast, Legacy Education Inc. (LGCY), another stock in the Consumer Discretionary sector, has a year-to-date return of 9.4% and belongs to the Schools industry, which is ranked 21 and has gained 7.5% this year [4][6] Sector Ranking - The Consumer Discretionary sector, which includes Charter Communications, is ranked 10 in the Zacks Sector Rank, which evaluates 16 different sector groups based on the average Zacks Rank of individual stocks [2] - Charter Communications currently holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a favorable position among its peers [3]

Economic Overview - U.S. consumers have regained confidence in the economy following a trade truce between the United States and China, leading to a sharp market rebound [1][2] - Consumer confidence jumped to 98 in May, up 12.3 points from April, significantly exceeding the consensus estimate of 87 [4] - The present situation index increased by 4.8 points to 135.9, while the expectations index surged by 17.4 points to 72.8 [5] Consumer Sentiment - Positive sentiment is attributed to the easing of trade tensions, with 44% of investors believing stocks will rise over the next 12 months, a 6.4% increase from April [5][6] - The labor market outlook improved, with 19.2% expecting more job availability in the next six months [5] Stock Recommendations - Recommended consumer discretionary stocks include Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (JAKK), Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB), Fox Corporation (FOX), and Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR) due to positive earnings estimate revisions [2][3] - Each of these stocks carries a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) or 1 (Strong Buy) [3] Company Insights - **Netflix, Inc. (NFLX)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 27.7% for the current year, with a 3% improvement in earnings estimates over the past 60 days [8][9] - **JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (JAKK)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 12.7%, with a 3.1% improvement in earnings estimates [10][11] - **Kontoor Brands, Inc. (KTB)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 9.6%, with a 2.9% improvement in earnings estimates [12][13] - **Fox Corporation (FOX)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 32.36%, with a 2% improvement in earnings estimates [14] - **Charter Communications, Inc. (CHTR)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 13.2%, with a 4.5% improvement in earnings estimates [15][16]

Charter Communications (CHTR) recently announced that the Spectrum TV App is now available on LG and VIZIO smart TVs, expanding the app’s reach to more than 90% of connected TVs in the United States. The launch allows customers to stream live TV and on-demand content directly through the Spectrum TV App without a cable box, offering a streamlined and flexible viewing experience.This move is part of Spectrum’s continued strategy to enhance accessibility and convenience for its video customers. By broadening ...

Economic Indicators - The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index rebounded to 98 in May, significantly above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 86, after five months of decline [1] - The Present Situation Index rose to 135.9 in May from 131.1 in April, while the Expectations Index climbed to 72.8 from 55.4, although it remains below the recession threshold of 80 [4] - 44% of respondents expect stocks to rise over the next 12 months, up from 37.6% in April, and 19.2% expect more jobs in the next six months, compared to 13.9% in April [5] Consumer Discretionary Stocks - Investment in consumer discretionary stocks is expected to be fruitful, with five stocks highlighted: Netflix Inc. (NFLX), The Walt Disney Co. (DIS), Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR), Roku Inc. (ROKU), and Roblox Corp. (RBLX), all carrying a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [3] Netflix Inc. (NFLX) - NFLX beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in Q1 2025, maintaining healthy engagement levels despite trade-related challenges [8] - The company launched its Ad Suite in the U.S. on April 1, with plans for international expansion, which is expected to drive subscriber and ARPU growth [9] - NFLX has an expected revenue growth rate of 14% and earnings growth rate of 27.7% for the current year, with a 3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings over the last 60 days [11] The Walt Disney Co. (DIS) - DIS reported steady Q2 fiscal 2025 results with year-over-year revenue and earnings growth, driven by domestic parks and experiences [12] - The company expects double-digit percentage operating income growth in fiscal 2025, with ESPN achieving significant viewership growth [13] - DIS has an expected revenue growth rate of 3.8% and earnings growth rate of 15.1% for the current year, with a 4.6% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [15] Charter Communications Inc. (CHTR) - CHTR's Q1 performance benefited from a 33.5% year-over-year increase in mobile service revenues, adding 514K new mobile lines [16] - The launch of satellite-based services through a collaboration with Skylo is expected to drive growth [17] - CHTR has an expected revenue growth rate of 0.3% and earnings growth rate of 13.2% for the current year, with a 5.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [19] Roku Inc. (ROKU) - ROKU benefits from increased user engagement, with the Roku OS being the 1 selling TV OS in the U.S. and streaming hours on The Roku Channel up 82% year over year [20] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 10.5% and earnings growth rate of 80.9% for the current year, with a 39.3% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [21] Roblox Corp. (RBLX) - RBLX operates an online entertainment platform, offering tools for users to explore and create 3D digital worlds [22] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 22.5% and earnings growth rate of 2.1% for the current year, with a 4.1% improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings in the last 30 days [23]

Momentum investing is all about the idea of following a stock's recent trend, which can be in either direction. In the 'long' context, investors will essentially be "buying high, but hoping to sell even higher." And for investors following this methodology, taking advantage of trends in a stock's price is key; once a stock establishes a course, it is more than likely to continue moving in that direction. The goal is that once a stock heads down a fixed path, it will lead to timely and profitable trades.Even ...